Page 112 of Fire Island
“But I’m so hungry.” I lean my head back, running a hand behind his neck and into his hair. “And it smells so good.”
“Hmmmm. Yeah, you do.”
I chuckle and he nips my neck before resting his hands on my shoulders and guiding me to the dining table. We sit across from Iris and Em in our places, and Iris was right—we feel like a family.
Thirty
CALLUM
Try eating dinner with your sister staring at you half the night while you try to fend off a boner from the woman beside you whose slightest touch sets you craving. The craving is so damn bad, I could toss the food from the table, haul her onto it, and devour her right here and now. Audience be damned.
Instead, I inhale my favorite stew like a man starved.
Hilarious, because I am.
Just not for my little sister’s stew.
I don’t know whether it’s from fooling around on the couch or Em’s offhand comment, but I’m strung out tonight. Finally, when everyone’s finished, I stand and pluck up the bowls and head for the kitchen like it’s a goddamn race.
A moment later, Em files in behind me with the cutlery and a shit-eating grin on his face. “Someone has plans tonight.”
“Fuck off, bud.”
He chuckles, dropping the cutlery into the sink, and starts washing up. “It’s all good, Cal. I haven’t seen Iris this happy since the day we found her...”
Evie. Since the day Em plucked Evie from the water, after those fuckers...
That sucks the joy right out of the fucking room.
“Shit. Sorry, man,” Em says, eyes tight as he pulls a bowl from the sink and sets it to rest on the drying rack. I tug the tea towel from the oven door handle and grab the bowl, wiping it down with more force than necessary.
“You going to take that letter to the station?” Emmett says quietly.
“Yeah, just not with Evie. She’s finally got some stability. She’s carried this burden long enough. I’ll handle it.”
Em gives me a proud look. “She’s the best thing that’s happened to us three in a long time.”
“Three?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Yeah. Irry needed someone as much as you did. Sister-type, you know. And...” His face turns serious, like he wants to say something but is having a hard time putting it together. “Seeing a smile on your grumpy-ass face—I’m happy for you, Cal. It’s been far too fucking long.”
I clear my throat, the one that’s too thick to respond.
“Don’t fuck it up, you hear?” Em grins at me now.
Like I ever would.
I’ve been that guy, and I lived through the consequences. Never again.
“Need a hand?” Evie says from the door. I turn back to find her holding a wine glass. Iris must have opened the red already.
“Nah, we’re good. You girls go enjoy the game.” Em winks at her.
She shakes her head and sips her wine. “Not likely, Emmett. How about a movie?”
“What did you have in mind?” I ask.
She contemplates this for a moment, then says, “One Small Hitch. Or maybeHappiness for Beginners?”
